Daniel Gene Mansveld

Daniel Gene Mansveld was born December 8, 1936, the second of six children, to Beulah (Corbin) and Karel Mansveld in Mitchell, SD. During his childhood the family relocated to Seattle, Wa. and then Oregon, where he remained most of his life. The three oldest brothers were a tight-knit group whose boyhoods were spent outdoors, surrounded by the forests and the heyday of the Oregon logging industry. Following graduation from Stayton High School, Dan enrolled in Southern Oregon College, and later enlisted in the United States Army. Upon discharge he entered into the occupation he grew up with, working as a log truck driver for Matthews Trucking and Coos Trucking in the Coos Bay area.  It was during this time that he met and eventually married Betty Hollingsworth, a widow with eight children, to whom he became a second father. With a house bursting with children and the many dogs he kept as pets through the years—who were among his best friends—life was never dull. A natural outcome of his love of driving was that Dan found great satisfaction and enjoyment in owning a classy vehicle and a fast motorcycle or speed boat for water skiing.  Together Betty and Dan faced the joys and challenges of life with grace and good humor. As changes loomed on the horizon for the logging industry, Dan purchased his own truck and began building a business for himself as an independent log hauler, working long hours until he was well past retirement age. Later in their lives Dan and Betty began attending church, and their faith in a personal God became a source of strength and stability. The most difficult challenge came when Betty passed away from cancer in 1990. Dan’s congenial good humor, ready smile, loyal nature, and outgoing personality earned him many friends; among them was Janice Galvin. Dan and Jan married in 2002, eventually retiring to northern Colorado where they could be closer to Jan’s children and sister. In recent years health problems resulted in their placement in separate long term care facilities. Dan looked forward to the times when stepson Brian would pick him up from his assisted living and make the drive to visit Jan in the nursing home. Jan passed away in July of 2019. Shortly afterward, Dan was hospitalized several times as he struggled with dementia and recurring bouts of pneumonia. He passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of October 5, 2019, at the Northern Colorado Medical Center in Greeley. Preceding Daniel in death were parents Karel and Beulah Mansveld; wives Betty and Janice Mansveld; step sons Fred Hollingsworth, Steven Hollingsworth, and Timothy Hollingsworth; step-daughter, Kathy Saunders; and sister-in-law Nancy Mansveld. Surviving Dan are sisters Maureen (Darrell) Axtell, Olympia, WA; Diana (Dwight) Thiessen, Savage, MT; brothers Karel “Dean” Mansveld, La Pine, OR; Darrel Mansveld, Salem, OR; Dorian (Diane Baker) Mansveld, Rickreall, OR; stepdaughters Sue Socia, Coos Bay, OR; Sherry Freund, Battleground, WA; Tammy (Troy) Buyse, Wellington, CO; Amanda Cole, Denver, CO; stepsons Dick Hollingsworth, Jefferson, OR; Jack Hollingsworth, Coos Bay, OR; Brian (Audrey) Lodwig, Ft. Collins, CO; Roger (Rena) Lodwig, Ft. Collins, CO, John Galvin, Coos Bay, Oregon; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and step-grandchildren. A family graveside memorial service will be held Saturday, November 9, 2019, 2:00 P.M. at Fox Valley Cemetery in Lyons, OR, with Pastor Troy Gulstrom officiating, and Weddle Funeral Service of Stayton in charge of arrangements